Frogspawn Swamp a grin made for war

arcturus had largely stayed in the confines of the copse, but today he followed the scent of meerkat. he was perplexed -- how had she managed to slip by, and why was so so far from home?

a sliver of his heart belonged to the girl - he had never forgotten his tryst with towhee, and a part of him believed he owed meerkat something more than his simple presence. trailing after her, arcturus' steps slowed as her scent was joined with another.

praimfaya.

his steps quickened; he thought of dragomir and how he had mentioned the girl had left the spear. like him, she was likely unwelcome to return -- and like him, she was another piece of his old life he had to make right.

he missed the riveting details of dragons and monsters, but his eyes did not miss the new marks borne across praimfaya's pelt, nor the onset of age around her shoulders that had not been there before. stepping silently to meerkat's size, arcturus beheld both with warmth radiating in his gaze, awaiting the continuation of the story before he spoke.